Lost Luggage With Your Medication at Heathrow or Gatwick. What to Do in the Next Few Hours

If your checked bag has not arrived and your medication is inside it, report the bag before you leave the baggage hall, tell the airline it contains medication, and arrange a UK prescription the same day rather than waiting for the bag. Most mishandled bags are delayed rather than lost. In 2024, 6.3 bags were mishandled for every 1,000 passengers worldwide, rising to 12.3 per 1,000 in Europe, and 74% of those were delayed, 18% damaged or pilfered and 8% lost or stolen. A delayed bag can still take days to reach you, and some medicines cannot wait that long. Insulin, epilepsy medicines, heart and blood pressure medicines, blood thinners, steroids and transplant medicines need replacing within hours. A pharmacy in London cannot dispense a prescription written outside the UK, unless it was written in the EEA or Switzerland and is not for a controlled drug, so a UK doctor is usually the fastest route. Under the Montreal Convention, airlines are liable for delayed and lost baggage up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights, around £1,600, and should reimburse reasonable spending on essentials, so keep every receipt. At The Wellness a doctor can see you by video within hours, from your terminal, taxi or hotel, from £150, with a prescription sent to a pharmacy near you. Fees appear further down this page.

Reviewed by the medical team at The Wellness. Last updated 3 October 2026.

My luggage is lost, get help on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.

Key facts if your bag and medication are missing

• Report the bag at the airline or handling agent desk in the baggage hall before you leave, and keep the reference number.

• Tell the airline your bag contains medication, which can speed up tracing and delivery.

• Do not wait for the bag if your next dose is due within a day.

• A UK doctor can issue a UK prescription the same day, by video or in person.

• Keep receipts for the consultation and the medicine for your airline claim or travel insurer.

What should you do in the first hour

Report the missing bag before leaving the baggage hall. The airline or its handling agent will create a report with a reference number, often called a Property Irregularity Report. This reference is needed for tracing, delivery and every claim that follows.

Say clearly that the bag contains prescription medication, and which medicines. Ask for an estimated delivery time and how to track the bag.

Check what you have with you. A spare dose in your hand luggage, a photo of the medication labels on your phone, or a medication list in your pharmacy app all make the next step faster.

Send your medication list on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com.

Which medicines cannot wait for the bag

Insulin. Missing doses can lead to very high blood sugar and diabetic ketoacidosis within hours, particularly in type 1 diabetes. If you feel unwell, are vomiting or are very thirsty and drowsy, call 999.

Anti-epileptic medicines. Missing doses raises the risk of seizures.

Heart medicines, blood pressure medicines and blood thinners. Stopping some of these suddenly can cause a rebound rise in heart rate or blood pressure, or a clot.

Steroid tablets taken long term. Stopping suddenly can cause an adrenal crisis.

Transplant medicines, Parkinson's medicines and some medicines for mental health also need to be replaced the same day.

For other medicines, such as cholesterol tablets, a missed day or two is usually less risky, but a doctor can still advise you and prescribe so that you are covered for your stay.

How do you get a replacement prescription in London

A pharmacy cannot dispense a prescription written in most countries outside the UK. Prescriptions from the EEA and Switzerland can be dispensed at the pharmacist's discretion, except for controlled drugs, but you will rarely have the paper prescription with you.

A UK doctor can review your medication, confirm the dose and the UK equivalent, and issue a UK private prescription in the appointment. A video consultation can take place from the airport, a taxi or your hotel, and the prescription is sent to a pharmacy near you that stocks the medicine.

Controlled medicines, including stimulants for ADHD, strong painkillers and benzodiazepines, cannot appropriately be issued at a first consultation without established records. If these were in your checked bag, contact us and we will explain the safest options.

How do you claim back the cost

Airlines on international flights are covered by the Montreal Convention. They are liable for delayed, lost and damaged baggage up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights, around £1,600, and should reimburse reasonable expenses for essentials while a bag is delayed. Replacing essential medication is a strong example of a reasonable expense.

Submit a written claim to the airline within 21 days of receiving a delayed bag, and within 7 days for damage. A bag is treated as lost if it has not arrived 21 days after it should have.

Keep the airline reference, the consultation receipt, the prescription and the pharmacy receipt. Many travel insurance policies also cover delayed baggage and medical costs.

How can you avoid this next time

Carry all essential medication in your hand luggage, with enough for the journey and a few extra days in case of delays. The Civil Aviation Authority allows essential medicines in containers over 100ml in hand luggage with supporting documentation, such as a letter from your doctor or your prescription.

Keep a photo of each label and a written list of your medicines and doses. Split supplies between bags if you travel with someone.

What does it cost to see a doctor after losing your medication

Harley Street GP consultations sit at £250 to £350, and visiting doctor services commonly charge £195 to £350 in the daytime and more at night.

At The Wellness each appointment is a single fee, with the prescription included. The medicine itself is paid for at the pharmacy. All prices shown are starting prices.

• Executive Health Programme, for visitors who want a full assessment while in London, from £11,995.

• Hotel, apartment or residence visit, evenings and weekends from £695 and daytime from £495, with family members seen in the same visit from £195 each.

• In-person consultation, 30 minutes with examination, from £220.

• Same-day video consultation from the airport, taxi or hotel, from £150.

• Travel medication letter for your onward journey, from £150.

Appointments are available the same day, 7 days a week, at our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia, by video, or at your hotel.

Why travellers choose The Wellness when their medication is lost

Because you can be seen within hours, by video from wherever you are, without waiting for the bag.

Because the doctor checks the ingredient, the dose and the UK equivalent, so your treatment continues without a gap.

Because the prescription goes to a pharmacy that stocks your medicine, near your hotel.

Because you leave with receipts and a summary ready for your airline claim or travel insurer.

And because, if your bag is lost for good, the rest of your stay is covered too.

Related reading

Forgotten or lost medication in London covers every same-day option, running out of essential medication covers insulin, inhalers and heart medicines, travelling to the UK with medication covers what to carry, and can you fill a US prescription in London covers American visitors.

Book a same-day appointment on WhatsApp or call 020 3951 3429.

Frequently asked questions

What should I do if my luggage with my medication is lost at Heathrow

Report the bag at the airline desk in the baggage hall before leaving, say it contains medication and keep the reference number. If your next dose is due within a day, book a same-day doctor appointment for a UK prescription rather than waiting for the bag.

Can a UK pharmacy give me my medication if my prescription was in my lost bag

Not usually. UK pharmacies cannot dispense prescriptions from most countries outside the UK. A UK doctor can issue a UK private prescription the same day after reviewing your medication.

Will the airline pay for replacement medication

Under the Montreal Convention airlines should reimburse reasonable expenses for essentials while baggage is delayed, and are liable up to 1,519 Special Drawing Rights, around £1,600. Keep the consultation and pharmacy receipts and the airline reference.

How long do I have to claim for delayed baggage

Submit a written claim within 21 days of receiving a delayed bag, and within 7 days for damage. A bag is treated as lost if it has not arrived 21 days after it should have.

Can I carry medication over 100ml in hand luggage

Yes, essential medicines in containers over 100ml can be carried in hand luggage with supporting documentation, such as a letter from your doctor or your prescription, according to the Civil Aviation Authority.

How quickly can I see a doctor in London

At The Wellness a video consultation can usually be arranged within hours, 7 days a week, from £150, with the prescription sent to a pharmacy near you.

The Wellness is a doctor-led private healthcare group providing medical care from our London clinics, including Marylebone and Belgravia. All doctors are GMC-registered. Prescriptions are issued only following a consultation and clinical assessment, and controlled medicines are not issued at a first consultation. In an emergency call 999. This article is general information and not legal advice or a substitute for medical advice about your own health.

Enquire now on WhatsApp or email team@thewellnesslondon.com or call 020 3951 3429.

References

• SITA Baggage IT Insights 2025, overview of global mishandled baggage rates

• Montreal Convention baggage liability limits and claim deadlines

• Civil Aviation Authority, travelling with medicines, mobility and medical equipment

• GOV.UK, prescriptions issued in the EEA and Switzerland, guidance for pharmacists